Cordless electric vibrator for use on the human body



CORDLESS ELECTRIC VIBRATOR FOR USE ON THE HUMAN BODY J. H. TAVEL June24, 1969 Sheet of2 Filed March 25, 1968 l/formy J. H. TAVEL June 24,1969

CORDLESS ELECTRIC VIBRATOR FOR USE ON THE HUMAN BODY Sheet 2 012 FiledMarch 25, 1968 m3 mug N: 3 15 vi m\\ Q N\\ r .m w H @A H United StatesPatent 3,451,391 CORDLESS ELECTRIC VIBRATOR FOR USE ON THE HUMAN BODYJon H. Tavel, 17643 Belinda St., Encino, Calif. 91316Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 516,867, June 30,1966. Thisapplication Mar. 25, 1968, Ser.

Int. Cl. A61h 1/00 US. Cl. 128-36 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is acontinuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 516,867, filedJune 30, 1966, and now Patent No. 3,375,381.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention relatesto cordless electric vibrators for use on the human body.

Description of the prior art Prior art vibrating devices are customarilyoperated from conventional sources of electrical supply through cords orwiring. They are also customarily bulky and awkward in size and shapeand relatively expensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a cordless electricvibrator for use on the human body which is substantially small andcompact, so that the vibrator can be held in one hand and applied to anypart of the body without being connected to a separate course ofelectrical supply.

The vibrator is unusually simple and compact in its structure, so thatit is economical to manufacture and to maintain. In one embodiment ofthe invention, the exterior housing may be formed of a single piece ofmolded plastic (except for the removable cap), the exterior of which iscapable of being washed. The vibrator may be used to vibrate otherthings such as hairbrushes, toothbrushes, polishing devices, etc.

In one embodiment of the invention, the vibrator may be selectivelyoperated at low or high speed, as desired by the user, by simple manualrotation of the end caps.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a vibrator which iseven simpler and more economical to manufacture than the vibrator whichis shown and described in my copending application referred to above.

The vibrator of the present invention is also much simpler in itsstructure, easier to handle and use and more economical to manufactureand operate than prior devices.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide avibrator having all of the advantages and benefits set forth above anddescribed in greater detail hereinafter in this application.

My invention also comprises such other objects, advantages, capabilitiesas will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed bythe invention.

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While I have shown in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments ofthe invention, it should be understood that the same are susceptible ofmodification and change without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of myvibrator;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same fully assembled;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the same taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the same taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the battery housing taken from the right handside of FIG. 2, with the batteries and end cap removed;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the inside of the end cap;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alternative embodiment ofthe invention in which the outside housing except for the end capcomprises a single piece;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the same, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alternative embodiment ofthe end cap portion of the vibrator in which the end cap includes atwo-speed control means, the control means being shown in high speedposition;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the interior of the end cap shown in FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1-6 of thedrawings, a preferred embodiment which has been selected to illustratemy invention comprises an elongated cylindrical battery housing 10,which may be conveniently formed of molded plastic or other suitablematerial. The battery housing 10 is adapted to receive and hold a pairof flashlight batteries 11 in the same end to end relationship in whichbatteries are mounted in a flashlight.

The lower end of the battery housing 10, which is disposed at the righthand side of FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, is open and is adapted toremovably receive an end cap 12. The end cap 12 has a base and anadjoining circular side wall. The end cap 12 is removably and rotatablymounted on the lower end of the battery housing 10. The end cap 12serves two purposes-it holds the batteries 11 within the battery housing10 and it acts as an on-off switch to control the flow of electricalcurrent to the motor, as described hereafter.

Mounted on the inside of the base of the end cap 12 is a substantiallyU-shaped contact spring 13, the lower part of which is in physical andelectrical contact with the midportion of a pair of contact arms 14,which extend outwardly on opposite sides of the contact spring 13 toadjacent the side Wall of the end cap 12. The contact spring 13 andcontact arms 14 are held in place by an eyelet 15, which is secured tothe center of the end cap 12.

The inside of the side wall of the end cap 12 is provided with a pair ofdiametrically spaced bosses 16, which protrude inwardly a shortdistance. The outside of the lower end of the battery housing 10 isprovided with a pair of substantially L-shaped slots 17, which have ashort axial leg 18 connecting with a substantially longer transverse leg19. The bosses 16 are dimensioned and adapted to slidably move into theopen lower end of the short axial legs 18 of the slots 17 and then movefrom the upper end of the axial legs 18 into the transverse legs 19.

The lower edge of each of the transverse legs 19 of the slots 17 isangled slightly downwardly from its closed end toward its junction withthe axial leg 18. A short stop is disposed at one end of the lower edgeof each of the transverse legs 19, directly adjacent to the intersectionof the transverse leg 19 with the axial leg 18. The stop 20 acts toengage the boss 16 in its counterclockwise movement along the axial leg18. The boss 16 can be moved past the stop 20 only by moving the end cap12 inwardly against the pressure of the contact spring 13. The stop 20accordingly prevents accidental removal of the end cap 12 and batteries11 and permits such removal only when the end cap 12 is moved inwardlyand then rotated past the stop 20.

An elongated flat contact strip 21, which may be formed of copper orother suitable electrically conductive material, extends along the innerwall of the battery housing 10 for its entire length. The lower end ofthe contact strip 21 is bent back on itself to extend into a slot 22which extends axially into the lower end of the battery housing 10.

The upper end of the contact strip 21 extends through a notch 50 in theperiphery of a disc 24 which extends across the upper end of the batteryhousing 10. The upper end of the contact strip 21 is bent to extendradially inwardly between protuberances 53 and 54 formed on the uppersurface of the disc 24.

A second contact strip 25 has one end thereof disposed betweenprotuberances 54 and 55 on the upper surface of the disc 24 radiallyspaced from the first contact strip 21. The second contact strip 25 isformed integrally with a contact plate 27, which extends along the lowersurface of the disc 24. The second contact strip 25 is bent to extendthrough a notch 51 in the periphery of the disc 24. The contact plate 27has a downwardly struck contact 28 which resiliently engages the contactof the adjacent battery 11. A short tab 29 at the opposite side of thecontact plate 27 extends upwardly through a hole 30 in the disc 24, tohelp hold the contact plate 27 in position.

The disc 24 is provided with a central opening 31, which is surroundedby a concentric circular ring 32 and seat 33. A resilient O-ring 34 ismounted on the seat 33 surrounding the ring 32. A small direct currentelectrical motor 35 is mounted on the upper end of the disc 24. Whileany suitable type of motor may be used, the one illustrated in thedrawings is a Mabuchi FM-ZS of the type commonly used in miniature slotracing cars.

The motor 35 has a projecting portion 36 which fits into the opening 31in the center of the disc 24. The O-ring 34 is disposed between thebottom of the motor 35 and the disc 24 and it acts to provide aresilient cushion-like mounting which reduces noise.

The upper side of the disc 24 is provided with a pair of elongatedlocator pins 37 which fit loosely in a pair of grooves 38 which aredisposed on opposite sides of the motor 35. The locator pins 37 andgrooves 38 orient the motor 35 so that its two downwardly directedcontact pins 39 engage and make electrical contact with the portions ofthe contact strips 21 and 25 which extend along the upper side of thedisc 24.

A cylindrical motor housing 40 surrounds the motor 35. The lower end ofthe motor housing 40 is secured to the upper end of the battery housing10 by electronic fusion, adhesive or other suitable means, preferablywaterproof, with the periphery of the disc 24 being held between thebattery housing 10 and the motor housing 40.

A conical end member 41 is removably connected to the upper end of themotor housing 40. The inner wall of the motor housing 40 is providedwith a pair of diametrically spaced square bosses 42 which extend intoL-shaped slots 43 in the end member 41 in substantially the same mannerin which the end cap 12 is connected to the battery housing 10. There isno stop 20 or the equivalent thereof. The lower edge of the transverseportion of each of the slots 43 is preferably slightly angled so thatthe end member 41 fits progressively more tightly as the bosses 42 movetoward the ends of the transverse portions of the slots 43. Theengagement between the end member 41 and the motor housing 40 shouldalso preferably be waterproof, so that the entire upper end portion ofthe vibrator can be washed.

The motor 35 in operation rotates a shaft 44 on which a weight 45 iseccentrically mounted. The periphery of the disc 24 has an arcuategroove 46 into which projections 47 and 48 carried by the batteryhousing 10 and motor housing 40 fit, in order to orient the parts withrespect to each other.

The lower end of the battery housing 10 is provided with a squareindentation 56 which overlies the slot 22, so that the contact strip 21overlies the inner half of the base of the indentation 56. A secondindentation 57 is radially spaced a short distance from the indentation56. A matching pair of indentations 58 and 59 are disposed diametricallyfrom the indentations 56 and 57.

The indentations 56-59 are oriented so that when the bosses 16 aredisposed away from the closed end of the transverse legs 19 of the slots17, the vibrator is in an off position and neither of the contact arms14 is dis posed in the indentation 56.

When the end cap 12 is rotated in a clockwise direction with respect tothe battery housing 10, moving the bosses 16 to the closed ends of thetransverse legs 19 of the slots 17, the contact arms 14 are moved intoalignment with the indentations 5659. The contact arms are urged intothe indentations 56 and 59 by their own resilience, bringing one of thecontact arms 14 into engagement with the portion of the contact strip 21disposed within the indentation 56. When this occurs, an electricalcircuit is completed through the batteries 11 and motor 35, to operatethe motor. The vibrator is then in an on position.

When the motor 35 is in operation, it rotates the shaft 44 andeccentrically mounted weight 45. The eccentric mounting of the weight 45imparts rapid vibration to the vibrator, such vibration being strongestaround the end member 41 and motor housing 40. The vibrator andparticularly these parts thereof may then be applied to any part of thebody to convey the vibration to the body.

If the end cap 12 is rotated a short distance counterclockwise, thebosses 16 will move away from the closed ends of the transverse legs 19and the contact arms 14 will move out of the indentations 56 and 59,thus breaking the electrical contact between the contact arm 14 and thecontact strip 21. The motor 35 will then cease to operate. If the endcap 12 is rotated a sufiicient distance to bring the contact arms 14into orientation with the indentations 57 and 58, the contact arms 14will move into those indentations.

It may be noted that the duplication of the contact arms 14 andindentations 56-59 makes it possible for the user to insert either ofthe bosses 16 into either of the slots 17 and the switch will stilloperate in the same manner.

It will be noted that if the motor 35 should need to be removed forreplacement or repair, the user need only unscrew the end member 41 andturn the vibrator upside down. The motor 35 will then drop out and a newmotor 35 can be inserted in its place.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, these show an alternativeembodiment of the invention in which a single elongated housing holdsthe batteries 101 and motor 102. The housing is provided adjacent itsinner end with an annular inwardly directed shoulder 103. A cylindricalsleeve 104, which is preferably formed of somewhat resilient plastic ornatural material is mounted so that its upper end engages the shoulder103. The motor 102 is mounted within the sleeve 104, which acts to holdthe motor 102 in place within the housing 100 and which also providesprotective shielding of the motor.

The motor 102 has a right angular resilient contact arm 105 whichcarries at the end thereof an inverted contact cup 106, which makeselectrical contact with the contact of the adjacent battery 101.

The other contact of the motor 102 is connected by a fastening member,soldering or other suitable means to the upper end of an elongatedcontact strip 107. The lower end of the contact strip 107 extends acrossan indentation 108 in the end of the housing 100, back into a slot 109and is then bent laterally outwardly to hold the contact strip againstlongitudinal movement and to prevent it from pulling away from itsconnection with the motor 102.

Access to the lower end of the contact strip 107 is provided through asmall opening 109a, which extends into the side wall of the housing 100,intersecting the slot 109. The point of a tool can be inserted throughthe opening 109a to engage and deform the end of the contact strip 107.While this deformation is shown in the drawings as being right angular,any suitable deformation which will serve the purpose may be used.

It will be noted that the device shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawingsis substantially cheaper to manufacture and assemble than the deviceshown in FIGS. 1-6 because the number of parts and the number and typeof assembly operations have been greatly reduced and simplified.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings, these illustrate a furtheralternative embodiment of the invention which incorporates the samecontact strip construction described above and in which the motor can beselectively operated at either high or low speed, with the speedselection being accomplished by manual rotation of the end cap 110'.

The inside of the end cap 110 is provided with a contact spring 111, thelower part of which is in physical and electrical contact with themidportion of a pair of contact arms 112, which extend outwardly onopposite sides of the contact spring 111 to adjacent the side wall ofthe end cap 110'.

A flat sheet of insulation 113 is disposed beneath the contact arms 112to insulate them electrically from a second pair of similarly formedcontact arms 114, which extend at an angle with respect to the contactarms 112.

A resistance element 115, which is shown as an elongated coil of wire,but which may assume any suitable form, is connected between one of thecontact arms 112 and one of the contact arms 114. The end cap has bosses116 corresponding to the bosses 16 described above. The end of thehousing with which the end cap 110 is used is preferably the same asthat described above with reference to FIGS. 1-6 of the drawings and thesame reference numerals will accordingly be used.

The contact arms 112 and 114 are so positioned within the end cap 110with respect to the bosses 116 that when the end cap 112 is rotated tobring the bosses 116 into engagement with the closed end of thetransverse legs 29 of the slots 17, one of the contact arms 112 isbrought into engagement with the portion of the contact strip which isdisposed within the indentation 56 in the end of the housing. Thiscloses an electrical circuit through the batteries and motor for highspeed rotation of the motor.

The end cap 110 may be rotated to move the bosses 116 away from theclosed ends of the slots 17 and to move one of the other pair of contactarms 114 to engagement with the portion of the contact strip disposedwithin the indentation 56. This closes a circuit from the contact stripthrough the contact arm 114, through the resistance element 115 andthrough the other contact arm 112 to the contact spring 111 and theadjacent battery.

Since the resistance element 115 is thereby brought into series with themotor, it consumes part of the current supplied by the batteries, sothat the motor will be supplied With less current than when the end cap110 was in the previous position and the vibrator will accordinglyoperate at a reduced speed.

If the end cap 110 is disposed in any position in which none of thecontact arms 112 or 114 is in engagement with the contact strip, therewill be no current flow to the motor and the vibrator will be turnedoif.

I claim:

1. A cordless electric vibrator for use on the human body, said vibratorcomprising an elongated substantially cylindrical housing having aclosed end, the outer periphery of said closed end being tapered to arounded end to provide an outer surface which is adapted to be appliedto substantially any part of the human body, said housing having auniform outer dimension for its entire length except for said roundedend, at least one elongated cylindrical dry cell battery mounted Withinsaid housing and extending longitudinally therein remote from saidclosed end, a miniature electrically operated motor mounted dimensionedto fit longitudinally within said housing adjacent to and inwardly fromthe inner end of said battery, a shaft rotatably connected to said motorand disposed adjacent to the inner end thereof, an eccentrically mountedweight carried by said shaft, said weight being adapted to causevibration of said motor upon the rotation of said shaft and weight, saidclosed end of said housing having a radially directed portion disposedadjacent to the midportion of said closed end, the inner end of saidmotor engaging said radially directed portion of said housing, so thatthe vibration of said motor caused by the rotation of said weight istransmitted directly to said housing and is concentrated longitudinallyaround the midportion of the said closed end of said housing anddistributed evenly around the entire outer periphery of said closed end,from which said vibration is adapted to be transmitted to the human bodythrough engagement with the outer surface of said closed end.

2. The structure described in claim 1, the portion of said closed end ofsaid housing extending between said radially directed portion and saidrounded end :being hollow and being free to vibrate without dampeningengage ment with any other portion of said vibrator.

3. The structure described in claim 1, in Which said closed end of saidhousing includes a removably mounted end member, the inner end of whichextends radially and which comprises the radially directed portion ofsaid housing which engages the inner end of said motor.

4. The structure described in claim 3, said end member being hollow andbeing free to vibrate without dampening engagement with any otherportion of said vibrator.

5. The structure described in claim 3-, and at least one electricalpressure contact engageable to connect said motor to said battery, theend of said end member also exerting pressure on said motor to make andmaintain said electrical contact.

6. The structure described in claim 1, and at least one electricalcontact engageable to connect said motor to said battery, said motorhaving a pair of spaced grooves, and a pair of stationary locator pinsengageable with said grooves to orient said motor to make saidelectrical contact.

7. The structure described in claim 1, the outer periphery of said motorbeing spaced from engagement with the adjacent portion of the closed endof said housing, so that the transmission of vibration from said motorto said housing is substantially confined to the engagement between theupper end of said motor, and the radially directed portion of the closedend of said housing.

8. The structure disclosed in claim 1, and at least one electricalpressure contact engageable to connect said motor to said battery, theengagement between the inner end of said motor and the radially directedportion of said housing also exerting pressure on said motor t make andmaintain said electrical contact.

9. The structure described in claim 1, in which said closed end of saidhousing includes a removably mounted end member, and engaging means forattaching said end member to the remainder of said housing, saidengaging means comprising at least one L-shaped slot formed on one ofsaid members, said slot having an open vertical portion connected to aclosed horizontal portion,

and a projection formed on the other of said members, said projectionbeing slidably movable into the open vertical portion of said slot andalong the horizontal portion thereof to removably mount said end memberon the end of said housing.

10. The structure described in claim 9, in which said horizontal portionof said slot is slanted to progressively tighten the engagement betweensaid end member and the remainder of said housing as said projection ismoved toward the closed end of the horizontal portion of said L-shapedslot.

11. The structure described in claim 10, in which said end member andhousing have a pair of said L-shaped slots and projections which arediametrically opposed to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS L. W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner.

